Choco Banana and Its Influence in Japan!

Handheld street foods are trendy in Japan and can be found throughout major cities and during yearly festivals. The choco banana is one of the most famous street snacks that can be bought in a pinch. If you like chocolate and bananas, we’ve got you covered!

What is choco banana?

A choco banana is a banana dipped in chocolate. What’s important to remember is that an actual choco banana is a whole banana, not just slivers or slices. Once wholly enrobed in chocolate, the banana is served on a stick, which can be eaten like a corndog.

This banana treat has many varieties, including sprinkles, nuts, fruit, and other toppings. And with every color under the rainbow available to color the chocolate, these sweet snacks also come in a limitless variety of colors!

How did it arrive in Japan?

Putting bananas on sticks isn’t unique to Japan – you can find this in other places like California and El Salvador. The story of how chocolate-covered bananas became popular in Japan has a few possible origins. One theory suggests that when Japan sent diplomats to Europe in the 1870s to end its isolation, they might have discovered chocolate-covered bananas there. Another possibility is that American troops introduced them to Japan during World War II, and the treat caught on afterward.

Since neither chocolate nor bananas are native to Japan, choco bananas likely resulted from Japan’s interactions with Europe and America. It’s important to note that eating food on sticks, such as dango (rice dumplings) or cucumbers, was already common in Japanese culture. So, eating a banana on a stick wasn’t a big stretch for Japanese people – it fit naturally into their existing food traditions.

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Where can I enjoy a choco banana in Japan?

Like many treats in Japan, you can find choco bananas in various places. Specialty candy stores often make them to order, while supermarkets and convenience stores in almost every town sell pre-made ones. For the best experience, seek fresh choco bananas from food vendors who appear during special events. If you’re craving a chocolatey snack, check out these places to find your choco banana fix!

Matsuri

Japan keeps its rich cultural history alive today in countless ways. You can experience a thriving part of Japan’s cultural heritage through the countless festivals held throughout the year. Every region, and nearly every town within each region, is home to many festivals. Some may be for local celebrations, while others are of a larger, national scale.

Regardless of why these festivals, or matsuri, may happen, what you can be sure of is finding some of the freshest and most delicious food in the country at these festivals. Choco bananas are no exception; you can find them by street vendors in all corners of Japan.

Tokyo Banana

With a name like Tokyo Banana, you know precisely what you’ll get when you visit this specialty snack store. Famous for their banana-shaped sponge cakes filled with soft banana cream, Tokyo Banana is a super convenient means of getting your banana fix while exploring Tokyo. Unlike chocolate-covered bananas, Tokyo Banana offers cookies, biscuits, matcha, chocolate, and more to those with a discerning hankering for something sweet.

Meiji

Meiji, a big candy company in Japan, makes a fun candy version of choco bananas. These candies are called Meiji Banana Chocolate, like tiny versions of the choco bananas you’d get at a festival. The candies come in a bright yellow box with a cute monkey on it. Each piece is shaped like a small banana and tastes like a mix of chocolate and banana.

They’re super easy to eat – just pop one in your mouth and let it melt! You can find these Meiji Choco Bananas in many places in Japan, like convenience stores and supermarkets. Some people even like to sprinkle them on top of ice cream for a special treat. These candies are great when you can’t get to an actual festival but want to taste something similar to a choco banana. They’re an excellent way to enjoy fun at the Japanese festival anytime!

Why should I try choco banana?

Japan has gone to great lengths over the past few hundred years to open itself up to what the rest of the world has to offer. In an age of instant communication and mass globalization, this can sometimes seem scary as cultural identities may fade away. Cast aside those fears, as choco bananas prove that Japan’s decision to open its doors to foreign influence can pay off in fun and exciting ways.

It may seem like such a small and trivial thing, but choco bananas happen when two cultures unite and find harmony. Japan took a snack from another part of the world and folded it into its society. So when you eat a choco banana, remember you’re helping bridge cultural divides!

Have you ever eaten a choco banana before? If so, where did you get it? Was it from a store, or did you get it fresh from a matsuri? Please let us know in the comments below! We would love to hear how you chowed some chocolatey bananas in Japan!